Cobra Keeps Ocala on Its Toes

Monocled cobras are native to southeast Asia and are apparently so incredibly venomous that you need to have a freaking permit to own one. After the owner and apprentice could not locate the snake, they called wildlife officials to help.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the reptile might have been eaten by a lizard in the home.

FWC officers searched the room and the entire house, including outside and underneath, but could not find the snake, nor could they determine if it has ventured outside.

Kurt Dotten said, "I was concerned to a point, but I know the neighbor; He's a good person".

Purdy told investigators that his apprentice, who was learning how to handle venomous snakes, was watching the reptile when it escaped. The snake is about 2 feet in length, with distinctive multi-color markings.

"Tiffany Wheeler said", I literally found out ten minutes ago and I left work and come here.

In typical social media fashion, someone was clever enough to create a Twitter account for the cobra. "Deadly snakes don't belong in a neighborhood like this".

Purdy said he wasn't home when the snake escaped.

"This is something they check into on a daily basis to make sure the venomous reptiles are caged properly", Weber said. "During interaction with the snake, the snake got out of its cage".

The highly venomous snake likely slithered out of its enclosure at a home in Oviedo around 9 p.m.

The snakes must be kept in some kind of enclosure, and that cage or crate must then be contained inside an escape-proof room or outbuilding.

A king cobra escaped from Mike Kennedy's home near Ocoee in September 2015.

Orlando stations report Kennedy entered a no contest plea Wednesday.

Officials are telling anyone who spots the cobra to stay back and immediately call FWC's wildlife hotline at 888-404-3922.